Finding Happiness?

The past year was a time for change, and I have seen myself evolve for the better.  I left one job to begin a career in the field I went to school for.  That in itself provided me with a renewed sense of purpose in this world, a feeling that I am going to be able to truly help people.  I began my own business in direct sales, selling jewelry.  Never before in my life have I been surrounded by so many positive and supportive women who want nothing more than to see me succeed.  

I used to be a primarily negative person who liked to blame others for my own experiences, behaviors, and thoughts.  However, owning a business has helped open my eyes to who I really am, as well as the person I want to be.  Being negative and behaving badly had only served to ensure that I would stay miserable and those around me would not enjoy being around me much more.  

Being positive has opened my eyes to a wealth of knowledge and information about the world, and I truly see life through different eyes now.  I am almost finished reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, and in honor of my newly developed quest for positivity and enlightenment, have decided to start my own mini happiness project.  

I have decided to write down the one thing every day that made me the happiest.  Simple, but powerful.  So many things occur on a daily basis and life moves so fast, that if we don't take the time to sit and ponder, even for a moment, and to remember the things that made us so happy in that one moment, what really is the purpose of pushing forward?  You know when fall is turning into winter, and daylight is fading into nightfall, and you step outside on a chilly evening and catch the first whiff of burning wood from someone's fireplace?  One of my favorite smells, and it makes me happy every time I sense it.  Or getting a kiss from your loved one every single night right before drifting off to sleep.  When it's something that happens every day we tend to take advantage of it.  We almost don't even notice such things until we no longer have them.  My goal is to do more living in the moment, rather than waiting until the moment has escaped and it's too late.  

Honeymoon Part Deuce: ARUBA Day 5

Up at 8:30, I hit the gym, hubby went for a swim, had breakfast, went to the beach, had lunch, got ready for ATVing!

Tour guide picked us up in his ratty white Jeep at 1:30 in the lobby of the hotel and brought us to the building from which we left on the ATV's.  My husband and I rode one together; there was a couple in front of us on an ATV together that were on their honeymoon, a young married couple behind us, 2 chicks riding solo, and a few other couples.  Our tour guide was a little crass but we had a great time!  We rode through neighborhoods to some old rock formations, which we climbed up and from there could see most of the island.  Then we went to old gold mine ruins which we also were able to climb.  We saw where the natural bridge was before it collapsed, saw the oldest chapel on the island (Alto Visto) which is still operational although it had to be rebuilt after a fire in the 1900's.  A couple was getting married there as we all pulled up.  We went off roading to the California lighthouse (gorgeous view!) and then finally ended up at Arashi beach where we were able to swim and clean off some of the dirt!  Then we headed back to our starting point, got in an old school bus that was painted with tons of flowers, and were all dropped off at our respective hotels.  It was a blast!

We went to dinner at Casa Tua Barcelona and split paella for dinner, then headed back to our beach where we had planned to have our usual wine on the beach.  Instead we ended up getting sucked into the commotion at Matthews, ended up getting pushed behind the bar where a crowd was dancing (doing the YMCA! And we had to do it too!  I don't even do it at weddings!) we had 2 shots poured down our throats and ended up staying at the bar and dancing for a few hours.  I ended up behind the bar 3 more times in a Conga line where everytime we went behind the bar the waiters and waitresses spanked us (WTH!?).

Honeymoon Part Deuce: ARUBA Day 4

Up an hour earlier this morning to get more fit into the day...my husband went for a swim in the sea while I put together breakfast: egg white omelet with smoked turkey and cheese, fresh fruit, and coffee.  We ate on the balcony then took our walk on the beach.  We layed out for a few hours, some island dogs came by us at one point (although during daylight hours much less scary!).  Finally I bought a huge white hat for the beach I had been eying since we arrived.  Too bad it's too windy on the island to wear it!!

We had lunch in our room, then headed up to MooMba Beach by the high rises for the Jolly Pirates snorkeling/booze cruise tour.  While walking toward the pier, something wet landed on my shoulder and baseball hat, looked like water when I looked at my shoulder so I asked my husband if water landed on my hat as well. I tipped my head down for him to see and as I did, this clear slimy bird sh*t slid off the front of my hat.  I was so disgusted!  My husband was laughing so hard he almost peed his pants.  He told me it's good luck to get sh*t on.  I told him that's what people tell you so you don't feel so bad about the fact that you are covered in sh*t...moving on.

We had time to kill before boarding the boat so we sat at a beach bar and had a beer.  Finally we took a smaller boat over to the pirate ship.  The trip lasted 3 hours, during which there was open bar, we stopped at 2 different sites to snorkel (the Antilla shipwreck and the Peter Ellis shipwreck).  At the first stop the guys running the ship told us we had to put our flippers on, life vests, snorkel gear, and jump off the top of the boat.  It took me a good 5 seconds before I could manage enough courage to jump 10 feet (if that) into the 60-foot deep water, but I finally did it.  At first trying to snorkel out in the middle of a sea I was having anxiety, a tough time breathing through the tube, but finally after I saw all the cool fish I think I forgot what I was doing and I snorkled around just fine.  As we were getting out of the water one guy loudly said to some girl "did you pee?" and she was squinting and scrunching up her face and she said "not yet, I'm trying".  Really??? Why don't you just announce it the world...musta had one too many Aruba Aribas before getting in the water...

After the 2nd snorkeling stop, one of the guys came around pouring shots in everyone's mouths (not that anyone needed them!) Turns out the girl I was sitting next to and talking to the entire time on the boat is from my state, and only lives about 30 minutes from me!  Talk about a small world...

Finally there was a rope swing: anyone who wanted to jump off the boat from the swing lined up and then one by one jumped into the water.  My husband went twice, decided the line was too long and asked the guys if he could jump off the opposite side of the boat and they said sure so there he went.

By the time we were coming back in to shore, we were all drinking and dancing and it wasn't even 6 pm yet!  We got back to our room and had something to eat, then actually went out to dinner at Matthews (all you can eat ribs?  My husband couldn't resist ;)

I was feeling a little woozy from all the sweet island drinks so we went back to our room and I was sleeping by 9:30 pm!

Honeymoon Part Deuce: ARUBA Day 3

Day 3 and up again at 10 am...ahhh, liking this vacation thing.  Breakfast on the balcony again, enjoying the warm humid air and the view of the Caribbean from afar.  Anxious to get down to that water so we eat quickly and head out.  I notice a rash starting on the back of my shoulder that's slightly itchy but, needing my ocean air in my lungs and sand beneath my toes, we head down to the beach.

On our way to the water, we stop in the business office and Carina makes us a reservation for the Jolly Pirates ship (booze cruise and snorkeling-Yes!) and for ATVing- (nervous?? Yes!!)  We walk on the beach for an hour, take a swim, and then read under a chickie.  I am getting used to this routine.

On our way back to our room for lunch we spotted a bright blue spotted lizard!!  I have never seen one that wasn't brown or green!  It was crazy and beautiful and I wanted to snap a picture but I wasn't camera ready.  Bummer!  I hoped to see him again later on during the trip.

We went to the grocery store again before lunch.  I managed to spend $150 and threatened my husband with bodily harm if all of the food didn't get eaten over the course of the remaining week (it didn't).

With our lunch I made us some fresh fruit margaritas: I used tequila, mango juice, fresh lime juice, fresh orange juice, sour mix, and seltzer.  Mmmm!  For lunch we had smoked turkey sandwiches with fresh pineapple and some cubes of European cheeses.  Then we headed back to the beach.

We saw the most amazing sunset that day.

After taking pictures, we headed out to do some shopping but the shops were closed (just our luck!) We ended up at Pinchos Restaurant, a place I definitely wanted to make sure we got to on this trip!  It is a restaurant on a pier, with the grill behind the bar.  The view is gorgeous but the bugs were ferocious!  The bartender had to give us bug spray.  At first I thought I just wanted to have a quick cocktail and leave because the bugs were bombarding us, but after awhile they stopping bothering us and we decided to order some "bar snacks" as they called them.  We got steak tips with a dark rum infused bleu cheese sauce, black angus mini sliders, and the mild spicy fish cakes with a curry pineapple sauce--delicious!  I was so glad we decided to eat there.  That meal made up for the crappy one we had had the night before.  The bartender was soooo friendly and pleasant as well.

We stopped at the Alhambra casino on our way back to the hotel.  This time my husband won $25 on the penny slots.  I cut him off from gambling and we headed down to the beach with our wine, per usual.

We also noticed that the crabs come out of the water and up into the sand at night!  Yikes!